Improvement in hanging venetian blinds



UNITED Sterns ArtNr trice,

HENRY W. SAFFORD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT EN HANGING VENETiAN BLINDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No'. 39,069, dated June 30,1863.

To @ZZ whom, it may con/cern:

' companying drawings, making part of this specification, in which-Figure l is a front view of a Venetian blind hung in a window-frame inmy improved mode, and Figs. 2, 3, and 4, side views of the pulley-blocksseen in Fig. 1 like letters indicating the same paitswhen in thedifferent figures.

Venetian window-blinds have heretofore been hung upon pulley-wheelsworking in slots cut in a supporting-board screwed fast to the head otthe window-frame, and, consequently, whenever it is desired that theblinds be taken down for the purpose of cleaning', or for other reasons,it is absolutely necessary either to unscrew the said supporting boardor to separate both the suspending and the hoisting cords from theblinds, both of which are troublesome operations, especially to females,and the subsequent replacement ofthe same is still `more troublesome anddiicult.

To obviate these difficulties is the object of my invention. Itconsists, substantially as hereinafter described and specified, in theemployment of open pulley-blocks screwed either into the top ot thewindow-frame or into a supporting-board secured to the same in the usualmanner, so that both the suspending` and the hoisting cords may readilybe either lifted out of or replaced in the said pulley-blocks, asoccasion may require, without detaching them from the blinds, or withoutremoving the supporting-board.

In the drawings, A A is the window-frame,

B the Venetian blind hung therein, G C C2 the open pulley-blocks, D Dthe suspendingcords, E E the hoisting-cords, and F the shadingcord. Theusual ornamental face or cornice-board is left out of the drawings, inorder to show the pulley-blocks and cords applied. Each of the blocks CC has two wheels 1 2, the higher ones, 1, carrying the hoisting-cords EE', and the lower ones, 2, the suspendingcords D D', the said pulleysbeing` placed with their planes at right angles to each other in eachblock, and the blocks left open above one side of each wheel, asrepresented in the drawings, or so that its appropriate cords may at anytime be easily lifted into and out of the blocks. In the presentinstance, the blocks G C are made especially for the two respectivepositions in which they are seen in Fig. l, in order to avoid anyrubbing` contact between the hoisting-cords E E and their adjacentsuspending-cords D D', but, by making the said blocks so that thehoistingcord pulleys l l shall be a little farther removed,horizontally, from the suspending-cord pulleys 2 2, the same form ofblock will answerl for both positions. The block G2 also has twopulleys, 3 3, and these are placed with their planes parallel to eachother, and the block also left open on one side above each pulley, asseen in the drawings, or so that the hoistingcords may at any time beeasily lifted either into or out of the same. The upper end of each ofthe blocks G C U is formed into a screw, having a square shoulder, asseen in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, that they may be readily screwed into the topof the window-frame, or into a supporting-board, and stopped at theproper position, as seen in Fig. l.

In the operation ot' my invention, it will be evident to the observerthat, if the blocks C G G2 be inserted to correspond with the blind, asseen in Fig. 1, the whole blind with all its cords may be easily eitherremoved from or placed in position in the windowframe withoutwithdrawing either of the blocks C, or removing the supporting-board, ifone be used, and that, if it be desired at any time merely to let thewhole blind down from the top ot' the window-frame, by means of thehoisting-cords E E', it will only be necessary, iirst, to lift the twosuspending-cords, D Dl out of the pulley-blocks G O to effect thedesired result. It will also be evident that the head-bracketsheretofore required may be dispensed with entirely, and the ornamentalcornice or faceboard then attached directly to the top of thewindowt'rame or casing, thus saving the expense of the usual upperhead-piece; that the usual single set of hoisting-cords are made toserve in raising and lowering the blind bodily, as well as for adjustingthe height of its lower end, as occasien may at any time require, andthat, consequently, my improvement reduces the original cost and rendersthe blind more easily applicable to and removable from the windows, andalso less liable to get out ot' order.

I am aware that Venetian blinds, and also shades, have before been hungby means of eXtra or double sets of hoisting cords and pulleys, so thatthe blind or shade could be let down, bodily, from the top of the window"frame, as in Bohrers patent of 1850, and in Roses patent, and in Crookspatent ot 1855; that fusees have been used in combination with a springand a continuous cord, for the purpose of retaining the lower end ot'the Y blind or shade at any particular position, as

in Bixlers patent of 1855; and, also, that an upper head with bracketshas been used in connection with a lower head, provided with hooks andextra cords for the purpose of rendering the blind detach able withoutremoving the holding nails or screws, as well as to allow the blind tobe raised or lowered bodily, as in Roses patent of 1855. I therefore donot desire to claim anything described in the said patents; but,

Having fully described my improvement in the mode ot' hanging Venetianblinds, what I claim as new therein of my invention, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The combined arrangement described of the open pulleys C C C2 with thesuspendingcords D D and the single set of hoistingcords E E', the wholeoperating together, substantially in the manner described and for thepurposes specified, whether the said pulleys be attached directly to thewindowframe or to a separate supporting-board attached thereto andforming part ofthe blind, as described.

HENRY W. SAFFORD.

Witnesses:

BENJ. MoRrsoN, J AMES MCCAHEN.

